Matt Burton Posted December 25, 2006 Report Share Posted December 25, 2006 Yes get a flyer if you don't mind selling it on fairly soon after you have learned the ropes. Also think about getting a glidecam v25 or second hand efp/IIIa for a little more $ than the flyer but will last you longer (you can fly a wider range of cameras and acsesories). -Matt "I started with a flyer" Burton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Milan Holec Posted December 25, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 25, 2006 Hey Everyone, Merry Xmas This is my first of many posts I hope. Anyway, just a quick question, Ive seen so many post in relation to the best steadicam for the my job. I produce Commercials for television in Australia, and just wondering which steadicam to purchase. The prices are very high, so i have to choose carefully, Im running a HVX202en PAL version. And can anyone point me in the right direction for my purchase, and maybe someone has a used one I could buy. Who knows, the worlds a funny place. I will be looking to produce a cooking show also. Thanks again. Hi Andrew I'll go with option from Jerry You don't have to go to Us for 2day course I thing Phill Balsdon in Sydney do some time to time /If I wrong sorry to give you wrong info/ plus I can see you base in Melbourne ? You can contakt some steadicam op. from Melbourne they can help you fig.your problem /Herderson Image ,Hugo from Rig Engineering Australia , Luis Puli .../ good luck Milan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Fabrice Maurel Posted December 25, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 25, 2006 Hi Andrew, I really recommend the Flyer, it is a beautiful piece of engineering and works very well. Taking a class is crucial if you don't have any previous steadicam experience. It could get very frustrating to learn on your own, there are technics that only a very experience operator can teach you. Also I wouldn't be too worry about the inability to fly heavier cameras. Cameras (newer) are becoming lighter not heavier. The Flyer can accomodate most SD and HD cameras, many 16mm and a couple 35mm. The Flyer is perfect for an HVX (I have one as well). Best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Charles Papert Posted December 25, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 25, 2006 Mmm yes, cameras are becoming lighter, but the optics are getting heavier! As more HD cameras (RED, D-20 etc.) incorporate 35mm-sized sensors, carrying a prime lens, mattebox and lens controls become half of payload of the Flyer. And modern primes weigh more than their predecessors. It's a tough place to be always on the brink of overload with your rig and having to strip bits off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Erwin Landau Posted December 26, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 26, 2006 It's just a prototype, but check that post: http://www.steadicamforum.com/forums/index...?showtopic=4275 But also, by the time you add all the bits that you need... Lens, Hard drive, AKS... not that light of a camera. Erwin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Lawrence Karman Posted December 27, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 27, 2006 If that is the Panasonic HD camera you are talking about, I flew it with great success with a modified Video SK rig which I believe was the Prototype for the Flyer. It was nice to have the beefier arm, as I added a video transmitter and wireless audio receiver. Nice to have a little more rig than you need to carry the extra weight. I have flown the Flyer at Cinegear, but only with a very light mini DV camera. It was quite nice, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Mazzoli Posted December 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 Hey Guys James Puli & I went to Lemac in Melbourne this morning to test the flyer out. Pretty nice, the HVX202En worked well, but saying that, I looked back at my footage, training is definately needed. So James kindly pointed me in the right direction, as to training. For myself, running my own production house i dont think I'II using anything else but the HVX202. So on that note think I will get the flyer, and i pray that the weight of cameras go down not up, but i also hope my current camera lasts me at least 5 years. If i decide on the flyer, what Zoom control would you recommend? for that unit... cheers agin you,ve all been very helpful HAve a drunken New years, I am.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members David Baldwin Posted December 28, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 Andrew The flyer and the hvx go together like cheap vodka and sorority chicks. Mr Holway had some good points about the camera not being the most important thing and all that, but IF the hvx is your medium, and you're just looking to move it through space, then look no further than the flyer. I love mine. Some of the more experienced guys may have something to say about lens control, but read up on the forum, there are plenty of topics covering this very same issue. Dave " I forgot to mention that I also took Obi-Pete-Kanabraham's course two years ago" Baldwin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members chris fawcett Posted December 28, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 Hi Andrew, I had a Flyer for years, and now an Archer SE. I tell you, I miss the Flyer sometimes. It's a truely great rig, and it will fly your camera perfectly. Whatever you buy, please take a workshop. It's a false economy not to. Check out these links for zoom/focus/iris control: http://www.bebob.de/international/zoe-dvxl_eng.html http://www.bebob.de/international/foxi_eng.html All the best, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Press Posted January 1, 2007 Report Share Posted January 1, 2007 One question you should be asking is do you really need to buy a rig or is it just a new toy you want to play with? Have you ever worked with a Steadicam operator on a shoot? That should be your next step. Nothing is as sexy as a good Steadicam shot or as tragic as a bad one. Usually the major contributor to what makes a bad Steadicam shot is the director?s poor understanding of when Steadicam should be used and the operators lack in confidence to say it wont work. You will soon realise that only a few jobs really suite Steadicam. I?m thinking if you are doing a cooking show, lots of slow tight long lens tracks, a jib arm and dolly on tracks is going to be more useful. I don?t know what sort of commercials you shoot but you may find it more cost effective to hire an owner operator on the few occasions you need them. Flying a Steadicam is a learned skill and atrophies if you don?t keep using it. Having a rig sitting around in a locker waiting for the right couple of shots every few months is not cost affective and won?t build your skills to a decent level. I know of a few production houses that have their own rig but no one with the skills to operate it. I won?t use their rig so they end up having to hire me and my rig even though they have one sitting around. Save you money and hire the best. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Mazzoli Posted January 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 Thanks for all the feed back guys, Renting is a good thought, because I make around 2-3 TVC's per month and usually I do most of the production work myself, I will be using the unit personally. I like the fact when the customer says ..you've got two days to complete the TVC, which happens frequently, I can do the storyboard in a couple of hours then go into production the very next day. Trying to find a steadicam operator and renting the unit, on the very next day, i feel wont work for me. I need the unit immediately. After 5 years in Business and employing my first two full time staff, now more than any other time, overheads are important, for me to buy a flyer, in the long run, will i hope. save me money. Im trying to book in a Steadicam course in Sydney with Phil Balsdon, what do you think? Any comments would be appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Pappas Posted January 7, 2007 Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 Andrew, I would definately take the workshop. I hear Phil is a great teacher, and Sydney is not that bad of a place! A lot of people think they can pick up a rig and fly it, but as I said before, you really need to understand not just the principles, but the art and appreciation of Steadicam. From a workshop you would also learn how to fly a rig properly and learn exercises that will assist you with your development. From there you can ask more questions here. As pointed out by Robert, there are people like Peter Abraham who live and breathe the Flyer (BTW - Hey Peter! Will talk to ya soon RE Asia!) - and are more than happy to answer any queries you may have - from Flying rigs to 'where do i get this mod from?'. Cheers, John Pappas Pappas Media Services EAST COAST, AUSTRALIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Mazzoli Posted January 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2007 Hi john Yeah I heard that about Sydney too. Apart from that I'II try and get in contact with Phil This week and see how I go. Cheers Again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Mazzoli Posted February 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Hi john Yeah I heard that about Sydney too. Apart from that I'II try and get in contact with Phil This week and see how I go. Cheers Again Doing my Steadicam course this weekend in Sydney with Phil, really looking forward to it. Also just ordered my Steadicam Flyer from Lemac last week, i hope it arrives soon. So i can start flying cant wait. I got the 12V, hope its the right choice. Regards Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Mazzoli Posted February 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Hi john Yeah I heard that about Sydney too. Apart from that I'II try and get in contact with Phil This week and see how I go. Cheers Again Doing my Steadicam course this weekend in Sydney with Phil, really looking forward to it. Also just ordered my Steadicam Flyer from Lemac last week, i hope it arrives soon. So i can start flying cant wait. I got the 12V, hope its the right choice. Regards Andrew Just completed the steadicam course with Phil Balston, great, thanks for the heads up on doing the course. Got the certificate..proudly displayed on the office wall. Learnt alot...And just in time Finally getting the flyer this week. One think though, trying to get the horizon straight can take a bit of work. Learnt the donJuan, the missionary position, great names... I have an issue with my lower back though, right side muscular aches when the rig is on, any ideas ?? Any good exercises to strenthen lower back? cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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